Black Sheriffs’ Memorial plans free Media Day during National Police Week

By AI, Created 10:27 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – The Black Sheriffs’ Memorial will host a free Media Day on May 12 in Washington, DC, with interactive tours and a tribute to the late Sheriff Michael Ryan. The event spotlights Black sheriffs’ history, public safety leadership and National Police Week outreach.

Why it matters: - The Memorial is using National Police Week to highlight the legacy of Black sheriffs and their role in public safety history. - The event is designed to draw media coverage, public visitors and community engagement at a time when law enforcement service is already in focus.

What happened: - The Black Sheriffs’ Memorial will host a free Media Day Event on May 12 in Washington, DC. - The event is open to members of the media and the public. - The memorial is led by Anthony E. Amerson, son of the late Sheriff Lucius D. Amerson, who serves as executive director. - The program includes a special tribute, in conjunction with the National Black Sheriffs’ Association, to the late Sheriff Michael “Big Mac” Ryan of Gray County, Texas, who died last year.

The details: - The memorial honors Lucius D. Amerson, the first Black sheriff elected in the South after Reconstruction, in 1966 in Macon County, Alabama. - The memorial says it also recognizes Black sheriffs past and present who shaped public safety in America. - The site features the only two sheriffs who served as founding members of NOBLE, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. - Visitors can take self-guided tours with interactive QR codes that unlock stories, photos and historical information. - The memorial includes steel-etched monoliths honoring pioneering Black sheriffs. - Those honorees include Walter Moses Burton, elected in 1869 in Fort Bend County, Texas, as the first Black sheriff elected in the nation. - The memorial also highlights Nathaniel Glover, elected in 1995 in Duval County, Florida, as the first Black sheriff elected in Florida. - Jacqueline Barrett-Washington is recognized as the first Black woman elected sheriff in the nation, in 1992 in Fulton County, Georgia. - William Bill Lucas is recognized as the first Black sheriff elected in Michigan, in 1969 in Wayne County. - The event will be held at 4435 19th Place NE, Washington, DC 20018. - Admission for Media Day is free for media and visitors. - The memorial will be open during National Police Week Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - General admission during normal hours requires a small donation. - Discounted admission is available for law enforcement officers and first responders in uniform. - More information is available through Anthony E Amerson, the memorial on Facebook and the memorial on TikTok.

Between the lines: - The Memorial is pairing history with an in-person, interactive format to make a niche civil rights and law enforcement story more accessible. - The tribute to Sheriff Ryan broadens the event beyond history preservation and ties it to current law enforcement remembrance.

What’s next: - The Memorial will remain open throughout National Police Week for regular visits and discounted law enforcement access. - Media Day may generate additional attention for the Memorial’s mission and the Black sheriffs it honors.